“All That Is Within” ( Psalm 103: 1, KJV ) by Carley Evans

^“1Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

²Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:”

We are to love the LORD our God with all our strength, with all our soul and with all our mind — with “all that is within.” The great commandment doesn’t emphasize outward cleanliness, just as Jesus tells us when He speaks of the cleanliness of the hands and the cup versus the filth of what’s inside the heart of the man.

Rather, the great commandment to love God emphasizes the inside state of the person — a state of blessing and remembering God, a state of gratitude toward God, for “His holy Name” and for “all His benefits.”

Look at what David does with his time — he praises God through song and poem. He possesses a heart of gratefulness to God. He sings:

“I praise You, O LORD, with all my heart; I tell of all Your wonders. I am glad and rejoice in You; I sing praise to Your Name, O Most High.” (Psalm 9:1-2, NIV)

“From the lips of children and infants You ordain praise.” (Psalm 8:2, NIV)

Jesus calls us to become little children. In the way of a child with her parents, we are to look to God with loving trust and with grateful hearts.

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